2644 - CSUN ScholarWorks - California State University, Northridge

2694
Journal of Student Research Abstracts · 27
THE EFFECTS OF THE GROWTH OF YEAST WITH DISSIMILAR TYPES OF
WATER.
Sam W. Kim. Teacher: W. P. Van Duzee. Saugus High School, 21900 Centurion Way, Saugus CA 91350.
This experiment was done to find the growth of yeast with the addition of sugar and water. The experiment
compared the effects of plain tap water against the effects of Brita Filtered water. First, 1 teaspoon of sugar,
and 1 teaspoon of yeast were mixed into one container, and repeated in another container. Next, I separately
warmed up 3 tablespoons of tap water, and 3 tablespoons of Brita Filtered water at 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Simultaneously, I added each different container of water into the mixture of yeast and sugar. I let the containers
set in and grow for thirty minutes. My observation was that the tap water had a better effect on the
growth of yeast rather than the filtered water. The tap water container produced foam that rose 4 inches in
height during the thirty-minute period. The Brita Filtered water container produced foam that rose 3 inches in
height. The same procedure was repeated 3 more times, and the results had remained the same. In conclusion,
the addition of tap water with yeast and sugar exceed the growth of yeast of filtered water.
2695
THE EFFECTS OF SQUALANE (SHARK LIVER OIL) ON THE GROWTH OF
FUNGUS.
Douglas Meyer Jr. and Steve DeGusta (teacher). John F. Kennedy High School, 6715 Gloria Drive,
Sacramento, CA, 95831.
This experiment was designed to test the affects of Squalane (shark liver oil) on the growth of fungus.
Squalane has been linked to slowing the growth of blood vessels that feed cancerous tumors and because of
this I wanted to test it on the blood vessels of an organism. The hyphal part of the fungus's structure is similar
in some ways to blood vessels and capillaries. So if Squalane slows the growth of fungus, it might suggest
the hypothesis that Squalane slows the growth of blood vessels? This experiment tested two types of fungus,
Trichoderma viride, and an unknown fungus. All the fungus was grown on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. Each
fungus had five control plates with just agar and 5 test plates which had a concentration of 5% Squalane in
their agar. I inoculated the plates with fungus using an agar core borer. I then measured the diameter of the fungal
growths and calculated the growth rates for a period of 10 days. I found that there was no significant difference
in growth between the Trichoderma viride controls and the Trichoderma viride plates with 5%
Squalane, because the probability that my results for the Trichoderma viride were do to chance alone was
greater than .1 (p = .1) The data for the unknown fungus however shows otherwise. I found that the Squalane
does significantly slow the growth of the unknown fungus, because the probability that my results for the
unknown fungus were do to chance alone was between .05 and .01 (.05>p>.Ol) This evidence helps support
my hypothesis and suggests that Squalane may slow the growth of blood vessels.
2696
MELATONIN AND ITS EFFECT ON REDWORM S SOIL BURROWING
ABILITIES.
Michael Xavier Guzman, Steven DeGusta. John F. Kennedy, 6715 Gloria Drive, Sacramento CA 95831.
The purpose of this experiment was to accelerate soil aeration by testing the effects of the neurotransmitter
Melatonin on the soil burrowing abilities of Eisenia foetida. This experiment was based on the premise that the
benefits redworms have to offer the soil of plants would be more convenient if they occurred at a faster pace.
To test soil burrowing ability the worms were divided into two groups. One group was injected with 0.01cc